Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales

Chaucer, the pilgrim

Chaucer: 1340-1400

• England

• Middle English

Events During Chaucer’s Life

• Black Plague killed nearly half the population of England

• 100 Years War with France

• Peasants’ Rebellion (remember Robin Hood)

• Corruption in the Church (Catholic)

• Power struggle between Pope and King

Organization of the Tales• 30 Pilgrims from all walks of life, both

secular and religious--from Parson and Plowman to Knight and Prioress

• Each pilgrim was to tell 4 tales: 2 going and 2 coming

• Chaucer died before completion

Pilgrimage to Cathedralat Canterbury

• Religious trip to holy shrine of Saint Thomas a Beckett

• Spring is a time for religious renewal• Spring is also a time to get outside, have fun,

take a trip, be glad you are alive. Plants grow, trees bloom, animals make babies.

• Left from the Tabard Inn in Southwark,near London

Knight• An excellent man

• fought in many wars and Crusades--fought for church and for king--fought against infidel

• Honored, good warrior, killed many

• Gentle, mannerly, kind, “meek as a girl”

• Rides a good horse, gear is plain

• Has rust from mail on tunic

SquireSquire

• About twenty, son of Knight

• Been to war with father, served well

• Has women on his mind

• Fancy shirt, plays flute

• Stays up all night chasing women

• “Gets no more sleep than a nightingale.”

Yeoman

• Dressed all in green

• Knows his woods lore

• Works for knight

• Takes great pride in his gear

• On chest is a silver image of Saint Christopher

Prioress• Sings mass through her nose

• Very neat eater, manners are important

• Reaches for meat with “comely air”

• Tries to imitate court ways

• Cries over dead mice; cares for her little dogs

• Fancy rosary with brooch-- “All things are subject unto love.”

Monk

• HUNTER

• “Modern monk”: sees no reason to say in monastery praying and being poor

• Has fine horses and dogs

• Gray fur on sleeves

• Bridle jingles “like a chapel bell”

• “His face was glistening.”

Friar

• A “gay dog”, merry, jolly• “Many a girl was married by his doing

And at his own cost it was often done.”• Hears confessions and assigns penance, give

him money and he will give you light penance• Would take the last money of a poor widow

Merchant

• A forked beard and a beaver hat

• Figured coat and handsome boots

• Pompous

• Seemed very successful, but actually. . .IN DEBT!

Oxford Student

• Skinny, hollow, somber looking

• Threadbare coat

• Always broke because he never worked for a living

• Always borrowing money for books

• “Gladly would he learn and gladly teach.”

Lawyer

• Cunning and discreet

• Deserving to be held in awe--or so he seemed

• “Seemed much busier than he was.”

Franklin

• Wealthy country gentleman

• Owns large country estate

• Loves the good life

• Especially loves good food: his table is always set

• An epicurean

Guildsmen and Their Cook

• Guildsmen are from new rising middle class

• Cook--a good cook, but a gross sore on his leg

Skipper/Ship’s Captain

• Very good at what he does

• But mean and tough: Sent many a man to the fishes

• Can’t ride a horse very well

Physician

• Well educated/read all the experts, both recent and ancient

• Yet Chaucer says he does not consult the Holy Writ (Word of God)

• Physician has a special love for gold

Wife of Bath

• Deaf in one ear

• Had five husbands and more lovers

• Fancy head gear on Sundays

• Excellent weaver

• Bold and brash

• Plump in red stockings, skirt hitched up

• “All remedies of love she knew by name For she had all the tricks of that old game

Parson

• A true man of God

• Would do anything, go to any length, would give away all he had to help people both rich and poor

• Walked, because he had given away horse

• “For first he did and afterward he taught.”

Plowman

• Brother of the parson

• A good man who loved and served God

• “He loved God with his whole heart and all the while And his neighbor as himself”

• He and brother show good in and outside of church

• Spends lot of time shoveling manure

Miller• A tough man, big and muscular

• A wrestler

• Black hairs coming out of his nose

• Like all millers, he cheated his customers, but he didn’t cheat too much!

Manciple

• A buyer and a seller

• Very good at his job

• Made money for his customers

• Made money for himself by skimming, but people continued to hire him because he brought them a profit

Reeve

• Slender with a fiery temper

• Overseer for an estate

• Knew all the tricks of cheating so was much feared by suppliers

• Rode at the rear of the group--Why

Summoner• Red faced, pocked, pimpled; heady eyes

• Lecherous and scary looking

• Children feared him

• If he liked a scoundrel, he would let him off.

• Power to summon people to church court. Much feared, especially by young people.

Pardoner• Has bogus religious relics for sale

• Sings “Come hither, love, to me.”

• Sounds like a small goat.

• Eyes like a rabbit.

• Never had a beard and never will.

• “I think he was a gelding or a mare.”

• Sells pardons for forgiveness of sins.

Canterbury Tales can be judged from several view points

• An entertaining story of a group on a pilgrimage

• A story representative of 14th century English society--all levels except nobility

• A literary banquet--many stories of many different types with complex characterizations and intertwined themes

• Vivid, complex and subtle as characters and themes are revealed.

A framed story

• Pilgrimage is a wonderful device (excuse) for stories of all types and characters of all types

• We get a range of humanity expressing different facets of the theme of “LOVE”

• Stories match the personality of the teller

• Origins of stories already in existence

Setting

• How does the trip in the spring (April) fit the themes of love and its many aspects?

The Host: Harry Bailey

• Large man

• Protruding eyes

• Frank, wise, manly, merry, friendly

• Organized the pilgrims into a group who would tell tales and get a prize. He calls on next story teller, etc.

• Pilgrims agree that he will be the judge.